A proposal moving through the state House this week would put new regulations and limitations on how, where and for how long homeless camps would be allowed in North Carolina.
The measure is in response to growth in the homeless population in many North Carolina cities. Shelters often don’t have enough room, and some homeless people choose to camp outdoors anyway. But some residents and businesses near such camps say they generate trash and unsanitary conditions, harm property values, and drive customers away.
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House Bill 781 sponsor Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, said he’s heard a lot about the problem from local governments in his district.
"[Local governments] don't know what to do. There's so many tents and there's so many homeless there, and it's unsanitary,” Biggs told the state House Judiciary 2 committee Tuesday. “Does it criminalize homelessness? No. It addresses the use of public property for camping and sleeping without prohibiting homelessness itself.”
HB 781 would give local governments authority to designate a publicly owned outdoor space to be used for camping and sleeping, but only if local indoor shelters don’t have sufficient space to meet demand, and only for one year at a time, with the approval of state or local health officials.
The site could not be close to residentially zoned areas and could not adversely affect commercial property or schools. The local government would have to provide security and supply toilets and running water for sanitation purposes. It would also have to offer access to behavioral health services and enforce a ban on the use of alcohol or drugs.
Otherwise, local governments would be banned from allowing “unauthorized camping or sleeping” at any location. Any resident or business owner in the locality could go to court to force their local government to take action to disperse any other encampments.
The bill would not apply during state or local states of emergency.
Biggs told the committee he’s looking for a solution that can help in the near term.
“I’m definitely not trying to demonize homeless people," Biggs said. "Basically, some of this gives them dignity, making sure that they have sanitary restrooms and things like that.”
Some Democrats on the committee praised Biggs for trying to address what many agreed is a “knotty issue.”
“There is no one-size-fits-all all,” said Rep. Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg. “It doesn't criminalize homelessness, which I appreciate.”
While a representative of the Cicero Institute, a free-market think tank, praised the measure, several other homeless advocates criticized it.
“How can we push down folks who are already down? Seems like it's impossible, but this bill has figured it out,” said Otto Harris, a spokesman for Western NC United Methodist Bishop Ken Carter. “Some of the most vulnerable and impoverished citizens will find themselves in harm's way.”
Chris Nobblitt with the National Union of the Homeless compared the proposed “sanctioned encampments” to “concentration camps.”
“If you really wanted to help homeless people, then you would help to unlock the 27 empty homes for every homeless person,” Nobblitt said. “You'd help us get Medicaid for every person. You would raise the minimum wage so we could afford the sky-high rent.”
The measure won committee approval and is expected to come to the House floor for a vote in the coming days.